Louisiana Ag Hall of Distinction Inducts Three New Members

Honorees include a forester, a former LSU AgCenter administrator, and an advocate for Louisiana's sugarcane industry.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 11:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction has inducted three new members: David Cupp, president of Walsh Timber Company; Rogers Leonard, former LSU AgCenter program leader; and Jim Simon, general manager of the American Sugar Cane League. The inductees were honored for their significant contributions to Louisiana's agriculture and related industries.

Why it matters

The Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction recognizes individuals who have made lasting impacts on the state's agricultural landscape, from forestry and research to advocacy for key crops like sugarcane. These inductees represent the diverse sectors that drive Louisiana's agricultural economy, the largest industry in the state.

The details

The three inductees were honored at a ceremony at the L'Auberge Hotel in Baton Rouge on February 26. David Cupp is the president of Walsh Timber Company and manages over 150,000 acres of timberland. Rogers Leonard is a former LSU AgCenter program leader who focused on plant and animal sciences. Jim Simon has served as the general manager of the American Sugar Cane League since 2004, advocating for Louisiana's sugarcane producers, millers, and refiners.

  • The induction ceremony took place on February 26, 2026.
  • David Cupp has worked for the Walsh Timber Company in Zwolle since the 1990s.
  • Rogers Leonard started his career at the LSU AgCenter Northeast Research Station and later held various research, extension, and administrative roles.
  • Jim Simon has been the general manager of the American Sugar Cane League since 2004.

The players

David Cupp

President of Walsh Timber Company, which manages over 150,000 acres of timberland in Louisiana.

Rogers Leonard

Former LSU AgCenter program leader for plant and animal sciences, with a background in entomology.

Jim Simon

General manager of the American Sugar Cane League since 2004, advocating for Louisiana's sugarcane industry.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We want that longterm business. We work in a small area here. If you violate that trust, guess what? You're out of business. We want that reputation of ethics and moral and doing the right thing.”

— David Cupp, President, Walsh Timber Company (sabinetoday.com)

“Louisiana agriculture remains the largest industry in our state and will for the foreseeable future. You will have fewer farmers. The farms will get larger. Someone will always farm the land, but food and fiber are the backbone of Louisiana.”

— Rogers Leonard, Former LSU AgCenter Program Leader (sabinetoday.com)

“It provides almost a $4 billion economic impact to our state. We have about 450 cane-farming families and the 11 operating raw sugar mills that produce sugar in Louisiana. So it's critically important from a financial perspective, from a historical perspective. It's part of what we do.”

— Jim Simon, General Manager, American Sugar Cane League (sabinetoday.com)

The takeaway

The inductees into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction represent the diverse sectors that drive the state's agricultural economy, the largest industry in Louisiana. Their work in forestry, research, and advocacy for key crops like sugarcane has had a lasting impact on the state's agricultural landscape.